The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will be conducted on the front steps of the Hall of Fame.

Joining the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees and staff at the kickoff event will be the Class of 2011 and more than 80 Hall of Famers in Canton celebrating the enshrinement of the Class of 2011. Participating in the ceremonial groundbreaking will be Roger Goodell, Commissioner, National Football League; Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Dierdorf, Willie Lanier, and Warren Moon. Mary Taylor, Lt. Governor, State of Ohio; Peter Ferguson, Commissioner, Stark County, Ohio; William Healy, Mayor, Canton, Ohio; Tom Schervish, Chairman, Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees; and Steve Perry, President/Executive Director, Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The “Future 50” Expansion & Renovation Project is the largest in the Hall of Fame’s nearly 50-year history and its completion will coincide with the museum’s 50th Year Celebration in 2013. As a result of the expansion, the Hall of Fame will increase in size by approximately 32,000 square feet to 118,000 square feet. The $27 million project will also include the renovation of another 37,000 square feet of existing space.

“We are pleased to officially begin this exciting endeavor,” commented Perry. “As we approach our 50th anniversary and are able to reflect back on the tremendous successes of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the “Future 50” Project marks the beginning of an exciting future that stands before us.”

A major element of the “Future 50” Project will be the construction of the 10,000 square-foot Pro Football Research and Preservation Center. This state-of-the-art facility will include a research library and archives, video conferencing lab, a rare books room and researcher’s reading room. Additionally, a new museum-quality environmental control system, designed to ensure the proper preservation of the Hall of Fame’s priceless collection of historical documents and artifacts, will be installed throughout the museum.

Other components of the “Future 50” Project include a complete renovation and new exhibits in the Hall’s original iconic Rotunda building; a new main entrance and grand lobby with new displays; a 2,700 square-foot temporary exhibit space; 3,200 square feet of new indoor event space; an expanded Hall of Fame Store; a new administrative office wing and expanded outdoor event space throughout the Hall of Fame campus.